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Im also on wellbutrin and im not sure if that helps but my sex drive is out teh roof and i have noone as of yet to go with!! im finally losing weight and feeling better about myself and i just dont want the men who are giving me attention...my idea is if i wait a bit more and lose more weight i will find a guy i truly want bc right now im not interested in some...haha but i am excited to find out if sex when i dont have all this fat on me will be so much better...and more positions!!!

@@FrankiesGirl - One of my gripes with Big Pharma is nicotine is OK in gum and patches, but not in vaping. Nicotine is an interesting drug, it is simultaneously calming and an amphetamine. The number of receptors seems to increase if you start before 25 (which is why I've always pushed my kids to not use a h*okas, or cigars until they are at least 25). For whatever reason, I'm self medicating on and do not function well without nicotine. I went three weeks cold turkey and my productivity was nil. I pulled out the vaping as a 'Hail Mary' trying not to go back to smoking and after doing it had almost instant clarity of thought again. But the nicotine as insecticide thing is pure propaganda. Sorry it is. Polypropylene glycerol is damn safe as an inhalant and everyone knows it. Dr. Wu's study was with cells from dead kids. "In the lab, the vapor triggered a strong immune response in the epithelial cells of tissue samples donated by deceased children and the exposed cells appeared to be more vulnerable to infection by cold-causing rhinovirus" All he could conclusively say was "if dead kids use this they may be at greater risk of the common cold." Come on. Don't give into alarmism. Especially in context of smoking/not smoking. It's not even close. All I have seen is a bunch of "we don't like it because it looks like smoking." All the while I saw all signs of my COPD go away, and no increase in anything bad in three years of follow up with my doctor before I had my WLS surgery...and there is no smell, I have never had a girl friend complain. There is a huge difference between burning vegies and vaping. 25-30% of American adults are completely addicted to nicotine. They still smoked even though they KNEW its dangerous. Yet since vaping came on the scene, nearly one in 10 of all Americans now vape, reducing the smoking rate to 17%. That is a good thing. It shouldn't be maligned by "maybe it does something." SMOKING DOES BAD THINGS. No if and's or butts. The junk science against vaping is as bad as the crap that getting WLS makes you 4 times more likely to kill yourself. Total BS and when pressed the doctor who wrote the study admitted it to me via email today. In short, please give me real facts and don't pee on me and tell me it's raining. I'm open to real facts. That's why I had WLS. My initial reaction to finding out how effective WLS was vs. Behavioral modification was "Oh BS." But after research, I had to agree, 80% chance vs less than 8%...yep it's worth the money. I am open to changing my mind. But not to non-sequesters.

My surgery (RNY) was end of June so I hadn't had Starbucks since then. Previous to that I'd go get Venti sugary drinks 2-3 times per week Bc I hated my job at the time. I had a tall skinny mocha with almond milk (decaf). Wow. So yummy! I'm not sure if exact nutrition, but skinny mocha has 5 cal per pump and the almond milk ( which does have some sugar) so I estimate it has about 95 cal, 4 g fat, and 5 g sugar. I put in unflavored protein powder for 92 cal and 20 G protein. I don't cheat anywhere in my program and I still feel like this is ok. Once in a while, this is a meal. Thoughts?!?! Be honest!

Hi Bandsters... :smile2:I was just wondering the longest anyone has been banded with no problems.. and if you don't mind, who was your surgeon? I am working on my six month requirements for BC/BS so I don't have any statistics to offer. For those of you who do.. thanks for your information.

Hi Lyn Well I am gobsmacked that you have actually had a consultation with Mr Kennedy and that he really does perform the op here in N Ireland. You even have the prices too!! I am really upset that I have been fed the wrong information by Dr Clements!!! I will certainly be enquiring further about this and would definitely be so pleased if it was done here as opposed to England. Thank you so much for this info Lyn it has been very helpful. If you find out anything else I'd be interested to hear.

Hi Gina. I have IBS as well. I was hospitalized as a toddler for a week - diagnosis: nervous stomach. Which of course became Spastic Colon, then IBS. Now, at 54 I got so fed up with how I was feeling that i decided I wasn't going to feel like it another day. I started doing research. I discovered while doing research that sorbitol and other sugar alcohols are in so many things (xylitol, mannitol, etc.). Even in my toothpaste. And more importantly, I was taking Cipralex Meltz which contain sorbitol - I can honestly say I felt poisoned. So - lactose intolerant, IBS and a pretty bad intolerance for sugar alcohols (something I figured out 5-6 years ago but didn't know I was ingesting every single day). When I went to my doctor and explained all these thing she said - "I know what's wrong with you!" - She told me about the Low FODMAP diet - a Doctor in Australia (with celiac) discovered the correlation between certain foods and intolerances, and sugar alcohols and their effect on people with gastro-intestinal problems. The biggest factor for me has been removing sorbitol completely. I'm super vigilant about this. My brain-fog just disappeared, my gut/bowel was so much better after that. I'm fairly good at not eating the many fruits and vegetables, fructose, fructans, etc that are all part of this. I just could not understand why when I ate I avoided dairy but my almost instant diarrhea happened all the same. It was awful. I'm not completely out of the woods, but I feel control for the first time in my life! I downloaded the app, bought the book and haven't looked back. My IBS is one of my major concerns when it comes to getting the gastric sleeve operation. I'm very concerned about foods going through my system too quickly and making my life miserable due to the food bypassing the absorption in the small intestine and through to the large too quickly resulting in chronic diarrhea. I see my doctor August 11 and it'll be a question I'll be asking for sure. She may not know the answers but she may be able to send me to see somebody that does. I really think that you should try this diet, especially as you have IBS. Perhaps you already know about the Low FODMAP diet? If so, sorry I've wasted your time with this very long message! lol The protein shakes you're drinking - check the ingredients. Become familiar with all the sugar alcohols so you can recognize them when you read ingredient lists. Most people with IBS also have lactose intolerance. Do you have it? Protein shakes are an issue for me - it's also a concern if I get the sleeve surgery as the protein shakes are a necessity from what I know. I can't have things like sugar-free popsicles (probably have sorbitol), shakes if they have dairy or sugar alcohols/sorbitol, etc. Dieting usually means low-fat, low-sugar foods. I won't be able to ever have those items, so will need to always have whole foods only - no processed. I will need to have a protein shake chosen beforehand that doesn't bother me. If it bothers me before surgery it'll be a nightmare after. Please look at this diet - there are so many doctors that don't know about it. Find a dietician who knows about it and get some help from him/her. Check your toothpaste, your foods/drinks, gum, mints, sugar-free pop (btw I can't have aspartame either). Good luck - would be so nice if this is a big help for you :-) I was put on the low fodmap diet six years ago. I was not lactose intolerant before my sleeve but I am now. Thanks for the thought and the time you took to message me.

Hello, I am 6 weeks post op and have no idea what to eat. I was so nauseous for the last 2 1/2 weeks and now I'm starting from scratch. I am scared to eat anything bc I throw up so easily. I am having a very hard time with fluid intake also. Nothing tastes good, even the flavored water I drank with no problems before surgery. Any advice is appreciated!!

It is funny but I never use the word stall...I use the word rest!..body at rest.... I never experienced one stall so far or gain either...2 reasons. I don't weigh myself that much only every 1 or 2 months...As I hit goal I will have to switch it up to once a week to keep track better. But for now...nope! I believe that the body is a magnificent machine and will protect itself from invaders and extreme circumstances.. like illness. it goes into shut down when something drastic happens to it out of the ordinary...Reserves its strength and restarts the regular flow of life when it feels safe... Our body's are like a huge city. Everything works because it is in unison. One thing is connected to the other..When something changes that, it takes defensive action and grinds to a halt.... Once it realizes that things are okay and it is being fed and all is well it starts up again...And lets that change happen until next time it is threatened.... Isn't the body amazing!!!!!!!!!!! I think so... First it made do with the extra weight that we constantly put on it and adjusted so we could carry it and live with it and keep moving..Mind you not at full capacity but it held its own... Not until it could not take it anymore did it do the same thing... Shut down our metabolism and went into protecting itself.... Don't worry about these rest periods..once your body feels safe it will start the engines again and travel forward with weight loss until it feels threatened again... Incredible isn't it that we are made this way!!!!

Thanks to all for the good wishes. Got home yesterday. Today much better. BS have been great 75 to 90. All meds are on hold for now. Getting along by myself on some things. First night was tough second day better still not great. In hospital i was not able to drink. My appetite was not there and the taste of water was not appealing to me. T oday i am able to drink my protein shake and jello pudding popsicles so much better.

@@VDB The point of my post wasn't intended to be about anxiety... what I was really driving at is the theme that everyone shared - that self care is SO important. I think you feel that this situation triggers stress eating for you, and maybe getting to the bottom of THAT issue is what my help you on your own personal health improvement journey. Speaking for myself, I can find reasons to overeat pretty regularly - ha - but part of my own personal transformation is to understand that an find (hopefully) healthier ways to cope. My example with my anxiety is to point out that I didn't even know I suffered from it until the masks were slowly peeled away....I have had to face this because I was mislabeling my own experience for quite some time... I also think that there are reasonable ways to be treated - and unreasonable ways. I completely agree and admire your committment to your son; keeping things together for his sake has alot of value. Even so, there must be some "limit" to the BS you should have to endure. I know it is really complicated, but it is like when my son when through an angry period growing up, it was "okay to express it, but not okay to do XXX" sort of thing. Maybe that isn't possible with a person with such bad emotional /mental state but those were my thoughts. I don't always use the right words, no intention to be offensive or disrespectful to your wife.... I just know that i have to set limits of how people treat me or else I go back to those old BAD coping mecanisms.... they are pretty deeply ingrained. (I had a very abusive father and anxiety ridden mother and learned my numbing techniques as a child. I picked overeating and obesity to help me cope but didn't even know I had done that!)

I am from Vancouver, BC and was banded Feb 9th at False Creek Medical

All of my hair has fallen out. Like all. I went to the doctor for my 3 month follow up and he checked labs early bc of how much had fallen out. They all were normal. I did add biotin but I basically have bald spots. I ordered a wig bc there’s nothing I can do. 😭 I’m 4 months out. This all came out at once and it hasn’t stopped.

I'm 12 days Post op and I have the same feeling.. I don't really have that "full" feeling. But I think it's just bc I'm not "eating" anything. Although,The shakes sometimes take me a couple hours to finish..

I'm like you Thank you for your comment: ) my surgery is the 8th..the emotional roller coaster..to do not to do..with the encouragement from my specialist an thyroid disease yo yo weight for 25 yrs enuff is enuff! I want my life back! This isn't me! My hubs has my back he said we are in this together! I'm like you if someone ask me who also has a weight problem I'll suggest this bc of the benefits an it's for life!

A protein shake can do the trick before or after weight loss surgery, or any other time you need a boost of protein beyond what you can get from your foods. How do you find one that has the amount of protein you need, tastes great, and is low enough in carbohydrates to be good for any weight loss diet? Stop looking, because BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein is a match! BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein delivers 25 grams of high-quality whey protein in each scoop. It is made with real Dutch-process cocoa or classic vanilla and it tastes rich and creamy, but it has only 1 gram of sugar. The total carb count is 1 carbohydrate, meaning this shake can be part of your low-carb or keto diet. BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein Highlights: 110 calories 25 grams of protein from Grass-Fed Whey 1 gram of carbohydrates 500 million CFU Bacillus Coagulans Patented Aminogen® protein-digesting enzyme 10% of the daily value for calcium Suitable for gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, gastric band, and BPD-DS patients Suitable for pre-op and post-op liquid, pureed (mushy), semi-solid, and solid foods diets Gluten-Free Lactose-Free Non-GMO Each tub of BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein contains 15 servings. BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein has other advantages. It contains patented Aminogen®, an enzymatic blend to support the digestion of protein. Plus, the shake has 500 million CFU of Bacillus coagulans, a probiotic which can promote a healthier gut environment. BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein can be used anytime. Start the day off with a low-sugar burst of protein for breakfast, or have a quick shake for a snack or small meal later. Just mix a scoop with water or your favorite beverage, such as milk for extra protein, or almond milk for creaminess. With BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein, you can get the protein you need to tide you over, without taking in excessive carbs. What exactly is Aminogen® and how is it beneficial? Aminogen® is a special patented protein-digesting enzyme blend that can help you get the most out of your whey protein while eliminating any bloating or constipation. The addition of Aminogen® to whey protein, such as is done in BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein, is scientifically proven to improve digestion and retention of protein within the body. Another benefit of Aminogen® is that it reduces some of the gas, bloating, cramping, and constipation that can occur when some people eat a higher protein diet and include whey protein products. As some people know, this protein “gassiness” is not a pleasant side effect, so Aminogen® is a sought-after addition. Overall, Aminogen® is a valuable component to whey protein products, like BariatricPal Clean Whey Protein. It can help you digest and absorb more amino acids, which will then assist you in building and repairing your precious hard-earned lean body muscle. Available online at The BariatricPal Store https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/bariatricpal-clean-whey-protein

No! But I get Jennifer Lawrence a lot bc of my voice and personality lol

6-9 months for the sleeve or rny? or bc you did not go w/their recommendations?

I have Anthem BC of AZ, my company home office is in CA and I was approved in 7 days with no 6 month diet... But my husband has been waiting since April 29th to hear if he is approved or not... our paper work was sent in within days of each other... You may want to find out if your employer specifically excludes weigh loss surgery. They can do that. With what you listed you would qualify. Good Luck!

I wanted to wear my own pjs in the hosp but with my iv that wasn't possible i had to stick to hosp gowns w snaps so the iv can be fed thru the arm. Even a bathrobe was out bc of the iv. I just had a hosp gown on backward to walk. Edit to add i didnt go to Mexico i just seen the name of topic n responded

hi my name is violet and i have a fatass bc i am addicted to sugar

Here is a longer one...kinda makes my head hurt. IS STARVATION MODE A MYTH? NO! STARVATION MODE IS VERY REAL AND HERE’S THE SCIENTIFIC PROOF QUESTION: Tom, I was wondering if you had seen the 6 part e-mail series sent out by [name deleted] from [website deleted]. if you look at the last part, he basically states that “starvation mode” is a bunch of crap made up in order to sell diet programs. He didn’t mention you, but it almost sounds like he’s talking about you specifically. How do you feel about this? ANSWER: Yes, I saw that article/email and the author is mistaken about starvation mode. In his article, he accused those of us who use the term “starvation mode” as being unscientific and he even says “dont buy diet books if they mention the starvation mode.” I’ll make it clear in a moment, that in this case, he is the one who doesn’t appear very well read in the scientific literature on the effects of starvation and low calorie diets. I do have to point out first that the effects of starvation mode are indeed sometimes overblown. There are also myths about the starvation mode, like it will completely “shut down” your metabolism (doesn’t happen), or that if you miss one meal your metabolism will crash (doesn’t happen that fast, although your blood sugar and energy levels may dip and hunger may rise). Another myth about starvation mode is that adaptive reduction in metabolic rate (where metabolism slows down in response to decrease calorie intake) is enough to cause a plateau. That is also not true. it will cause a SLOW DOWN in progress but not a total cessation of fat loss. As a result of these myths, I have even clarified and refined my own messages about starvation mode in the past few years because I don’t want to see people panic merely because they miss a meal or they’re using an aggressive caloric deficit at times. I find that people tend to worry about this far too much. However, starvation response is real, it is extremely well documented and is not just a metabolic adaptation - it is also a series of changes in the brain, mediated by the hypothalamus as well as hormonal changes which induce food seeking behaviors. Here is just a handful of the research and the explanations that I have handy: Ancel Key’s Minnesota starvation study is the classic work in this area, which dates back to 1950 and is still referenced to this day. In this study, there was a 40% decrease in metabolism due to 6 months of “semi-starvation” at 50% deficit. Much or most of the decrease was due to loss of body mass, (which was much more pronounced because the subjects were not weight training), but not all of the metabolic decline could be explained simply by the loss of body weight, thus “metabolic adaptation” to starvation was proposed as the explanation for the difference. Abdul Dulloo of the University of Geneva did a series of studies that revisited the 1300 pages of data that keys collected from this landmark study, which will not ever be repeated due to ethical considerations. (it’s not easy to do longitudinal studies that starve people, as you can imagine) Here’s one of those follow up studies: “Adaptive reduction in basal metabolic rate in response to food deprivation in humans: a role for feedback signals from fat stores. Dulloo, Jaquet 1998. American journal of clinical nutrition. Quote: “It is well established from longitudinal studies of human starvation and semistarvation that weight loss is accompanied by a decrease in basal metabolicrate (BMR) greater than can be accounted for by the change in body weight or body composition” “the survival value of such an energy-regulatory process that limits tissue depletion during food scarcity is obvious.” Also, starvation mode is a series of intense food seeking behaviors and other psychological symptoms and if you do any research on the minnesota study and other more recent studies, you will find out that starvation mode as a spontaneous increase in food seeking behavior is very, very real. Do you think sex is the most primal urge? Think again! Hunger is the most primal of all human urges and when starved, interest in everything else including reproduction, falls by the wayside until you have been re-fed. There are even changes in the reproductive system linked to starvation mode: It makes total sense too because if you cannot feed yourself, how can you have offspring and feed them - when you starve and or when body fat drops to extremely low levels, testosterone decreases in men, and menstrual cycle stops in women. Starvation mode is not just adaptive reduction metabolic rate - it is much more. There IS a controversy over how much of the decrease in metabolism with weight loss is caused by starvation mode, but the case is extremely strong: For example, this study DIRECTLY addresses the controversy over HOW MUCH of a decrease in metabolism really occurs with starvation due to adaptive thermogenesis and how much is very simply due to a loss in total body mass. Doucet, et al 2001. British journal of nutrition. “Evidence for the existence of adaptive thermogenesis during weight loss.” quote: “It should be expected that the decrease in resting energy expenditure that occurs during weightloss would be proportional to the decrease in body substance. However, in the case of underfeeding studies, acute energy restriction can also lead to reductions in resting energy expenditure which are not entirely explained by changes in body composition.” Starvation response is even a scientific term that is used in obesity science textbooks - word for word - CONTRARY to the claim made by the expert mentioned earlier who thinks the phrase, starvation mode is “unscientific.” Handbook of Obesity Treatment, by wadden and stunkard (two of the top obesity scientists and researchers in the world ) quote: “The starvation response - which is an increase in food seeking behavior - is most likely mediated by the decrease in leptin associated with caloric deprivation.” Textbooks on nutritional biochemistry also acknowledge the decrease in metabolism and distinguish it as an adaptive mechanism, distinct from the decrease in energy expenditure that would be expected with weight loss. In this case, the author also mentions another downside of very low calorie diets: spontaneous reduction in physical activity. Biochemical And Physiological Aspects of Human Nutrition by SM. Stipanauk, professor of nutritional sciences, Cornell University (WB Saunders company, 2000) Quote: “During food restriction, thermic effect of food and energy expenditure decrease, as would be expected from reduced food intake and a reduction in total body mass. Resting metabolic rate, however declines more rapidly than would be expected from the loss of body mass and from the decline in spontaneous physical activity due to general fatigue. This adaptive reduction in resting metabolic rate may be a defense against further loss of body energy stores.” Granted, it is more often referred to as “metabolic adaptation” or “adaptive reduction in metabolic rate.” However, starvation mode and starvation response are both terms found in the scientific literature, and they are more easily understood by the layperson, which is why I choose to use them. Another effect of starvation mode is what happens after the diet: A sustained increase in appetite and a sustained reduction of metabolic rate that persists after the diet is over. Although controversial, this too is documented in the literature: American Journal clinical nutrition 1997. Dulloo “post starvation hyperphagia and body fat overshooting in humans.” American Journal Clin Nutrition 1989, Elliot et al. “Sustained depression of the resting metabolic rate after massive weight loss” quote: “Resting metabolic rate of our obese subjects remained depressed after massive weight loss despite increased caloric consumption to a level that allowed body weight stabilization.” and Dulloo 1998: “The reduction in thermogenesis during semistarvation persists after 12 weeks of restricted refeeding, with its size being inversely proportional to the degree of fat recovery but unrelated to the degree of fat free mass recovery.” By the way, this explains what some people refer to as “metabolic damage” and although this is not a scientific phrase, you can see that it too is a reality. It is the lag time between when a diet ends and when your metabolism and appetite regulating mechanisms get back to normal. Last, but certainly not least, and perhaps the best indicator of starvation mode is the hormone LEPTIN. you could spend weeks studying leptin and still not cover all the data that has been amassed on this subject. Leptin IS the anti starvation hormone. Some people say leptin IS the starvation mode itself because it regulates many of the negative effects that occur during starvation. leptin is secreted mostly from fat cells and it signals your brain about your fat stores. If your fat stores diminish (danger of starvation), your leptin decreases. If your calorie intake decreases, your leptin level decreases. When leptin decreases, it essentially sounds the starvation alarm. In response, your brain (hypothalamus) sends out signals for other hormones to be released which decrease metabolic rate and increase appetite. In summary and conclusion: There is no debate whatsoever about the existence of starvation mode - IT EXISTS and is well documented. There is also no debate whatsoever that metabolic rate decreases with weight loss. It happens and is well documented, and it is a reason for plateuas. There’s really only ONE debate about starvation mode that is — HOW MUCH of the starvation mode is comprised of adaptive reduction in metabolic rate and how much is due to loss of total body mass and increased feeding behaviors? Researchers are still debating these questions, in fact just earlier this year another study was releasd by Major and Doucet in the international journal of obesity called, “clinical significance of adaptive thermogenesis.” Here’s a quote from this latest (2007) study: “Adaptive thermogenesis is described as the decrease in energy expenditure beyond what could be predicted from the changes in fat mass or fat free mass under conditions of standardized physical activity in response to a decreased energy intake, and could represent in some individuals another factor that impedes weight loss and compromises the maintenance of a reduced body weight.” I respect the work that other fitness professionals are trying to do to debunk diet and fitness myths, but this fellow didn’t seem to do his homework and totally missed the boat on this article about starvation mode. What’s really odd is that he didn’t quote a single study in his article, despite his repeated reference to “scientific research.” If he wanted to argue against adaptive reduction in metabolic rate and chalk starvation mode up purely to increase in food seeking behaviors… and if he wanted to attribute the decreased metabolism with weight loss purely to lost body mass, he easily could have done that. But he didn’t cite ANY studies. He just expects us to take his word for it that “starvation mode is a myth,” and people like me who use the phrase starvation mode are “unscientific” Either way you argue it - and whatever you choose to call it - “starvation response” is a scientific fact and that’s why prolonged low calorie diets are risky business and mostly just quick fixes. The rapid weight loss in the beginning is an illusion: Starvation diets catch up with you eventually… just like other habits such as smoking appear to do no harm at first, but sooner or later the damage is done. For years I’ve considered it so important to understand the consequences of starvation diets that my entire burn the fat program is built around helping you recover from metabolic damage from past diet mistakes, to avoid the starvation mode, or to at least keep the effects of the starvation mode to a minimum so you can lose the fat and keep the muscle. Sincerely, Your friend and “Burn The fat coach” Tom Venuto, CSCS, NSCA-CPT www.BurnTheFat.com PS. For more information on getting lean without starving yourself or harming your metabolism, visit my website at www.BurnTheFat.com.

okay dokey, I am just going by your sample menu...so I know it may not be a good reflection of what you eat weekly but here are some thoughts. Why a Protein Shake in the morning? Is it bc you are too tight? If not, maybe replacing it with a solid food (with protein). Also, you listed salad twice. Salad is a slider food, and not very nutritionally beneficial. It won't keep you full or give you much energy. I agree though that maybe you are not eating enough calories. Have you tried tracking with the daily plate or other websites? A lot of people say they need somewhere around 1200 to keep their weight loss steady. Also, what does your exercise look like? If you are exercising regularly, maybe you are losing inches but not pounds? If you aren't exercising, maybe if you started it would help jump start things again? Those are just some thoughts. What weight did you start at?

After me doing research on the glucose meds its ironic they have starch fillers an sugars. Which affect glucose numbers. I was wondering if you eat red meat an watch the lunchmeats. I also use a organic liguid cinammon suppliment instead of capsules bc of the filler issue. Just sharing. I still add a squirt of the liquid suppliment to my coffee every morning. It doesnt have strong fcinammon flavor its just the supplement. Keps glucose in chk..thought i would share..

Long story short, I have a beautiful baby daughter who means the world to me. Don't get me wrong, there's 1,000,000 reasons to do this in the first place, but it breaks my heart to imagine passing down bad habits to her or (at worst) her losing her father. I know exactly what it takes to lose weight. Calories in, calories out. Just stick to that, and you'll lose. Its insanely simple - yet somehow I can't stick to it. Logically it seems idiotic to not get a handle on this. I mean no judgement, I'm just speaking honestly. Somehow, I CANNOT get a handle on this. I'm at the point where I'd call this addiction. Food is tied to my emotions. At my best, I'll go months and months eating right (enough) and lose 50+ pounds. I even lost 120 in younger days. Somehow, the motivation eventually drains from me and its like nothing will stop me from checking out . . Its just not 'there' anymore. Before I know it, the weight is back. I've been down the same road so many times. The thought of going down it again, dedicating my life to it, is draining. I'm fatigued and I haven't even started (again) yet. I'm not sure where to go from here. Questions: 1 - What is the success rate, no BS. I mean long-term success where people are living happy lives and food (one way or another) isn't their end-all be-all. 2 - I keep hearing you have to make a lifestyle change, diet, lose weight, eat right, etc. . . I'm also hearing if you don't, you can grow your stomach back and gain weight again. This sounds incredibly discouraging, because if it was that easy, wouldn't we all just do it without surgery? 3 - What is the best option for long-term success? Apologies for the vent session. I'm at the end of my rope and I'm frustrated.

Hi everyone! I'm in need of a few good friends right now. I've been researching lap-band for 1 1/2 years. Had BC/BS of Ne. They refused to cover for ANY reason. Iowa medicaid only covers bypass after three years of documented physician assisted dieting. Now I have United Health care-the top "premier"-THEY said it was EXCLUDED, but would take it on a Case-by-case basis with a surgeon's predetermination letter. Needless to say I'm so depressed because I was denied-the co. said"You have a policy exclusion for obesity surgery" DUH!!!!! I feel hoodwinked too since we could have changed our coverage by June 28 and not paid out $300/mo. for insurance we can't use!!! any good advice? Does anyone have United Health care-Overture Premier?(Tier 3)